The historic sanction to Manchester City Football Club has become a turning point in the world of football. The Cityzens will not take part in the next two editions of the Champions League and the Europa League for breaching financial fair play. And this will entail consequences.
Sterling, De Bruyne i Agüero
Although Man City can appeal this decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), this sanction has deeply affected the club, considered as one of the great European teams in the last decade, capable of winning it all.
The most relevant players in the European scene, like Sterling, De Bruyne and Sergio Agüero, are tempted to leave Man City in repsonse to billion-euro offers from Real Madrid, Barça, Bayern and Juventus. Not being allowed to play in Europe is a backward step for all those implied.
And Pep Guardiola is also being targeted. The Catalan coach has a contract with Man City until 2021, but it was known last December that Guardiola can leave the club before that date. There is a clause in his contract that allows him to leave the club this very season.
Guardiola, to Juventus?
Juventus is one of the clubs best positioned to sign one of the best coaches in the world, but Guradiola will say nothing until there is no final judgement. His intention was clear: stay at Manchester City. However, this UEFA sanction can alter his plans.
Punishment to Man City might not be just not playing in Europe for the next two editions, and a 30-million-euro fine, but it could also lose points in the Premier League if found guilty.
UEFA had already sanctioned the cityzens. It was in 2014, when it imposed a fine of 55 million euros and a limit to the economic amount for signings until 2015. This sanction was a warning to the clubs having sheikhs as presidents, and PSG is being watched. Let's wait and see.